Diagnostics

Barium swallow:A barium
swallow is a cancer
diagnosis imaging test that is designed to detect the
presence of esophageal
cancer. In this
method of cancer
diagnosis, a patient swallows a special liquid called
barium. The liquid then coats the walls of the
esophagus, allowing x ray tests to pick up the outline
of the esophagus more clearly. A barium swallow
cancer diagnosis
can also be used in a series of x ray tests that
observes parts of the stomach and intestines. Doctors
often observe the results of the x ray and discover
irregularities in its often smooth shape.

While
barium swallow tests are accurate for showing
cancerous
irregularities inside the esophagus, they do not show if
the cancer has
spread outside of the esophagus, thus meaning that a
barium swallow is not a definitive and conclusive method
of cancer
diagnosis for all
cancer. A barium swallow test is the first test a
doctor may perform to discover what is causing a patient
to have trouble swallowing normally. This method of
cancer diagnosis
is very accurate, to the point where even small
cancers in the
earliest stages can be found. A barium test works by
indicating to doctors where a part of the esophagus
protrudes out into the lumen, the name given to the open
area of the tube.

This
uneven pattern indicates that a growth may be present
inside the esophagus. In most cases, when a cancer
in the esophagus is found early in a barium x ray, the
tumor is indicated by a small round bump in the often
smooth lining of the esophagus tube.
Cancers that
have developed into advanced stages show up on the x ray
as narrow areas of the esophagus A barium swallow test, while being
instrumental in esophageal
cancer
diagnosis, can also determine whether or not further
complications have arose as a direct result of the
cancer. One such
condition called tracheoesophageal fistula can be easily
detected by a barium swallow test. Tracheoesophageal
fistula occurs when
cancer has damaged the tissue that is located
between the esophagus and the trachea tube to the point
where there is a hole that connects both. This is a
dangerous condition because
food
that is swallowed by a person with this
condition may pass from the esophagus to the
lungs. This causes frequent coughing. A doctor
may then perform surgery to help correct this
problem.

Dysphagia:
Esophageal
cancer is often discovered based on the
apparent symptoms that it causes. Very rarely
does esophagus
cancer
become diagnosed in a patient not experiencing
any set of symptoms (if so, it is often by
accident). One major symptom of esophageal
cancer
is dysphagia. Dysphagia is defined as a
condition which makes it difficult for a person
to swallow. Though it can be an indication of
several other conditions such as peptic
esophagitis, esophageal web or external
compression, it is often caused by carcinoma of
the esophagus, also known as esophageal
cancer.
Doctors will often perform extensive tests to
determine the cause of dysphagia, including a
thorough scan of the esophagus, usually using an
endoscope. Dysphagia often includes a sensation
that food
that is swallowed is caught inside the throat or
chest, even after much time has passed after
eating. Dysphagia is a condition that is mild
when it begins, but as time goes on, it becomes
worse. In most cases, a large tumor that has
developed into an advanced stage of esophageal
cancer
is often the cause of dysphagia. The tumor in
the advanced stage of esophageal
cancer
generally compresses the areas of the neck and
check and may pinch the esophagus to half of its
normal width. This is what gives the sensation
that food
is caught inside a person's throat or chest.

A person may have
the symptoms of dysphagia and will often change
his or her eating habits without noticing. He or
she does this by taking smaller bites of
food and
chewing more thoroughly before swallowing it. As
the condition worsens, he or she will begin
eating softer
foods
that are easier to swallow and have less of an
impact on the feeling of dysphagia. Eventually,
he or she may avoid solid
foods
altogether as it becomes too severe to eat
normally. As dysphagia enters into later stages,
the saliva glands begin producing more saliva in
order to make it easier to swallow
food.
When this happens, patients of dysphagia may
begin to cough up more saliva and mucus.

Esophageal Cancer
Diagnosis:
In most cases, an esophagus
cancer
diagnosis is performed in its advanced stages
when patients feel apparent symptoms, such as
trouble swallowing (dysphagia) or
pain.
Unfortunately, when esophageal
cancer
is showing symptoms, it is more difficult to
treat. When esophageal
cancer
is found early by a
cancer
diagnosis, it is usually by accident during
another examination or during a routine checkup.
The two most common symptoms of esophageal
cancer,
which help aid in its
cancer
diagnosis, are dysphagia and chest
pain.Dysphagia is
defined as a condition that makes it difficult
for a person to swallow.A patient may feel a sensation as
if food
is caught inside his or her throat or chest
after eating.

As the condition becomes more and
more severe, patients may find it too difficult
to swallow harder
foods,
such as meat, and may eventually find it hard to
swallow any kind of solid
foods.
Dysphagia may be a sign of several possible
types of conditions, but the most common cause
is esophagus
cancer.Esophagal
cancer
can cause a
pain or discomfort inside the middle part of
the chest. This can be in the form of a burning
sensation similar to the signs of acid reflux.
As a result, this
pain can
just be mistaken for common heartburn, usually
felt after eating a meal.
Pain can
also occur in the throat after swallowing. This
occurs when the
cancer
is large enough to infringe on the area that the
esophagus occupies.

When a person believes that he or
she is feeling the symptoms of esophagus
cancer,
a physical examination will be necessary to
accurately determine the causes of the symptoms.
The examination begins when the doctor asks for
background information about the patient, such
as his or her daily habits. This is done to
determine if there are known
cancer
risk factors present in their daily lives, such
as smoking. As the doctor gathers information,
the patient will have to reveal personal medical
background, as well as family health history.
After background information is understood,
tests are performed if the doctor suspects that
cancer
may be present.

One of the most common imaging tests used to
detect esophagus
cancer
is thebarium
swallow.
This test involves a patient swallowing a
special liquid called barium. This liquid is
designed to coat the esophagus so that the
structure of it is more defined when it is x
rayed. The x ray is very accurate in discovering
small tumors, which show up as small bumps on
the normally smooth lining of the esophagus.Doctors also find CT scans useful
for esophagus
cancer
diagnosis. A CT scan is a detailed x ray that
creates cross sectional images of the area in
the chest being observed. CT scans are more
difficult to perform that normal x rays because
they require a patient to lie still for an
extended period of time. Magnetic resonance
imaging (MRI) tests provide images of the chest
to detect the presence of
cancer
and help doctors to make a
cancer
diagnosis.. It uses radio waves to create a
detailed image of the chest. The drawback is
that an MRI exam takes time to complete and the
test can be quite uncomfortable for many
patients.

Anendoscopy is
a test that involves inserting a thin, flexible
tube down a patients throat to detect the
presence of a tumor or
cancerous
cells inside the esophagus. The tube is usually
fitted with a light and a camera so that a
doctor can observe the structure of the
esophagus on a monitor. It may also have the
capability to take a tissue sample so that a
biopsy can be performed. The biopsy gives a sure
answer of whether or not cells are
cancerous.
There are several types of endoscopy tests that
are performed to diagnose esophagus
cancer:Upper endoscopy: A basic
endoscopic test where a doctor observes the
lining of the esophagus and may take a tissue
sample for analysis.

Endoscopic Ultrasound: An
endoscopic test that transmits sound waves to
create a detailed image of the chest area. This
test is ideal for determining if
cancer
has spread to surrounding tissue near the
esophagus.
Bronchoscopy: A endoscopic test used to examine
the trachea and bronchial tubes that lead up to
the lungs. This test is usually performed when a
doctor suspects that
cancer
has spread to the trachea.
Thoracoscopy and laparoscopy: These two tests
are used to determine if esophagus
cancer
has spread to the lymph nodes in the chest and
abdomen area.A biopsy determines for sure if
an area of abnormal tissue is
cancerous
or not. This test is performed because
appearance is not always a clear indicator if
cancer
is present.